Which of the following Acts was the first intervention by the British government in the East India Company’s territorial affairs?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. The Regulating Act, 1773.
The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first intervention by the British government in the East India Company’s territorial affairs in India. This Act marked the beginning of British parliamentary oversight of the Company's activities. It established the office of the Governor-General of Bengal (first being Warren Hastings), along with an executive council, and set up a Supreme Court at Calcutta. The Act aimed to curb corruption, improve administration, and assert Crown control over Company rule, which had grown after the Battle of Plassey and Buxar.
Other Options :
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Pitt’s India Act, 1784: Strengthened British control by creating a Board of Control, allowing dual control between the Company and the Crown.
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Charter Act of 1793: Renewed the Company’s charter but maintained the status quo; added little new control.
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Charter Act of 1813: Ended the Company’s trade monopoly in India (except with China); did not impact political control directly.